Chemistry: fischer-tropsch processes; or purification or recover – Group viii metal containing catalyst utilized for the... – Iron containing catalyst
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-05
2002-04-30
Krass, Frederick (Department: 1614)
Chemistry: fischer-tropsch processes; or purification or recover
Group viii metal containing catalyst utilized for the...
Iron containing catalyst
C514S264110, C514S265100, C514S878000, C514S879000, C514S922000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06380267
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
Parkinson's Disease is a chronic, progressive, neurodegenerative disease of unknown cause. It is characterized by tremor, rigidity, slowness of movement and loss of postural reflexes. Disability from Parkinson's Disease results from the progressive impairment of mobility, as well as a form of dementia that often accompanies the disease.
Parkinson's Disease is more common in the elderly population, with a peak incidence between the ages of 55 and 60. The prevalence of Parkinson's Disease rises with increasing age. The disease is found worldwide and is estimated to affect 1% of the population of the United States.
The primary biochemical abnormality in Parkinson's Disease is a progressive loss of dopamine producing cells in the substantia nigra pars compacta area of the brain. These cells are located in the midbrain and project to the striatum. The cells synapse with striatal neurons using dopamine as a neurotransmitter. The loss of dopamine associated with the cell loss results in an imbalance in the inhibitory and excitatory circuitry in the basal ganglia, and this in turn results in impairment of movement characteristic of Parkinson's Disease.
There is no known cure for Parkinson's Disease, but several forms of symptomatic treatment are available. These treatments include medication and surgery.
The principal goal of symptomatic treatment is to restore the normal balance of neurotransmitters in the basal ganglia. The most potent medication available for the treatment of Parkinson's Disease is levodopa. Levodopa is the biochemical precursor to dopamine. It can be taken orally and it crosses the blood-brain barrier where it is taken up by dopaminergic cells in the brain. Levodopa is then converted to dopamine which is released.
Levodopa is very effective in ameliorating the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease during the early stages of the disease. However, potentially debilitating complications occur with chronic use of levodopa. For example, chronic use of levodopa causes its duration of action to progressively decrease, which causes patients to get cyclical fluctuations of Parkinson's Disease, symptoms known as “motor fluctuations.” Additionally, chronic use of levodopa causes dyskinesias, which consists of random, purposeless movements or fixed postures. Such complications afflict approximately 50% of patients taking levodopa for more than five years.
The cause of levodopa complications is unknown but appears to be related to postsynaptic changes due to the pulsatile delivery of dopamine to the dopamine receptors. Dyskinesias are particularly difficult to treat. Treatments include adjustment in levodopa doses to optimize the patient's response. However, while decreasing the dose reduces the dyskinesias, it usually results in worsening of the underlying symptoms of Parkinson's Disease. Amantidine hydrochloride administration is effective in reducing the duration and severity of dyskinesias in some patients but it is associated with confusion and nausea, among other side effects. Further, surgical treatments such as pallidotomy and deep brain stimulation, are effective treatments for dyskinesias in some patients but these procedures are expensive and are associated with surgical complications themselves.
Therefore, there is a need for a new treatment for Parkinson's Disease that has fewer complications than current treatments. Further, there is a need for a new treatment for the complications associated with levodopa administration such as dyskinesias.
SUMMARY
A method of decreasing the signs or symptomatology in a patient with a neurologic condition or disease, or in a patient due to effects of exposure to an exogenous substance, such as a pharmaceutical agent. The method comprises selecting a patient having at least one sign or symptom selected from the group consisting of akinesia, bradykinesia, dyskinesias, gait disturbances, posture disturbances, rigid limbs, speech impairments and tremor. Then, the patient is administered one or more than one effective doses of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor such that the at least one sign or symptom improves.
In one embodiment, the patient selected is newly diagnosed with a neurologic disease or condition. In another embodiment, the patient selected has been taking medication or has had a surgical treatment and is experiencing dyskinesias. In a preferred embodiment, the signs or symptomatology are due to effects of exposure to levodopa.
In a preferred embodiment, the condition or disease is selected from the group consisting of dystonia, Huntington's Disease, multiple system atrophy, tardive dyskinesias and Tourette Syndrome. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the condition or disease is Parkinson's Disease.
In another preferred embodiment, the phosphodiesterase inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of caffeine, dipyridamole and theophylline. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the phosphodiesterase inhibitor is sildenafil.
In one embodiment, the method comprises administering a plurality of doses of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the phosphodiesterase inhibitor is sildenafil and where the dose of sildenafil administered is between about 10 mg per day and about 200 mg per day, more preferably about 50 mg per day and most preferably about 25 mg per day. In another particularly preferred embodiment, the dose of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor is titrated for the particular patient until the patient receives the smallest dose that will maximally decrease the signs or symptomatology without creating unwanted side effects that outweigh the benefits of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor.
In another embodiment, the phosphodiesterase inhibitor is administered for between about one week and about twenty years, and more preferably for between about one year and about five years. In a preferred embodiment, the phosphodiesterase inhibitor is administered orally.
In one embodiment, the present invention is a composition for decreasing the signs or symptomatology in a patient with a neurologic condition or disease, or in a patient due to effects of exposure to an exogenous substance, such as a pharmaceutical agent. The composition comprises an effective dose of one or more than one phosphodiesterase inhibitor combined with an effective dose of one or more than one additional pharmaceutical agent known to decrease signs or symptomatology in a patient with a neurologic condition or disease. In a preferred embodiment, the phosphodiesterase inhibitor is sildenafil. In another preferred embodiment, the additional pharmaceutical agent is selected from the group consisting of an anticholinergic, a carbidopa/levodopa combination, a dopamine agonist, a catechol-o-methyl transferase inhibitor, levodopa, a monoamine oxidase type B inhibitor and an NMDA receptor antagonist. The composition can also comprise at least one substance selected from the group consisting of a binding agent, a coloring agent, an enteric coating and a flavoring agent.
The present invention also includes a method of decreasing the signs or symptomatology in a patient with a neurologic condition or disease, or in a patient due to effects of exposure to an exogenous substance, such as a pharmaceutical agent, the method comprising administering a composition according to the present invention.
In another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of treating patients with Parkinson's Disease. The method comprises selecting a patient with Parkinson's Disease and administering one or more than one effective dose of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor such that the at least one sign or symptom improves. The one or more than one effective dose of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor can comprise administering a plurality of effective doses of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor.
In a preferred embodiment, the phosphodiesterase inhibitor is sildenafil. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the dose of sildenafil administered is between about
Farah David A.
Krass Frederick
Sheldon & Mak
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